Rotary motor.



F. J. CROMP & F. J. & H. S. PEEBLES. 4

ROTARY MOTOR.

APELlQATIQhL ELLED JUNE 3,1916.

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F. J. CROMP & F. 1. & H. s. PEEBLES.

ROTARY MOTOR.

APPLICATION FILED IUNE 3.1916.

Patented Jan. 30, 1917.

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ramx a. czeomr, FRANK a. PEEBLES, AND mmannr s. PEEBLES, or cement LAKE,

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ROTARY MOTOR.

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Specification of Letters Eatent.

Application filed June 3, 1916. Serial No. 101,541.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FRANK J. CROMP, FRANK J. Pnnnmss, and HERBERT S. PEEBLES, citizens of the United States, residing at Central Lake, in the county of Antrim, State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Rotary Motor; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and cXact. description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in rotary engines, and has for its object to provide an engine of this character which operates by internal combustion, and which is capable of generating high speed and great power.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a rotary internal combustion engine which is strong and durable in its construction, which will run with great smoothness, which can be started without difiiculty, which is economical in the use of fuel, and which can be operated on either gasolene or kerosene.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel combinations and arrangements of the parts as will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the novel features thereof being pointed out in the appended claims.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through a rotary motor constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view through the same. Fig. 3 is an end view thereof, portions being broken away and shown in section to illustrate more clearly the details of construction. Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken on the line ll of Fig. 2. 'Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view through a portion of the rotor and easing, showing the construction of the valve between the pump cylinders and the explosion chamber.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and mdicated in all the views of the drawings by the Same reference characters.

Specifically describing the present embodiment of the invention, the numeral 1 designates a cylindrical outer shell which is surrounded by a water jacket 2 and which 1s provided upon the interior thereof with a plurality of rows of buckets 3. This shell 1 may be mounted upon a suitable base 1 and standards 5 are arranged upon opposite sides of the shell, said standards carrying the bearing blocks 6 within which the main shaft 7 is journaled, said main shaft carrying the rotor A which is mounted within the shell 1. Adjusting screws 8 are pro vided upon the standards 5 for engagement with the bearing blocks 6 to adjust the latter both vertically and laterally for the purpose of accurately centering the rotor A in the shell 1.

The rotor A. is shown as divided transversely into two cylindrical sections which are fitted together end to end, each of the sections being formed in two complemental halves 9 which are adapted to be assembled from opposite sides of the main shaft 7. These halves 9 of the rotor sections have radial faces 9 at the middle portions thereof, andfaces 9 which are in parallel planes and arranged on chords of the circle, at the ends thereof. Opening through one of these faces 9 of each of the rotor parts 9 is the bore of a cylinder 10 within which a piston 11 is mounted. A clearance space 12 opens through the opposite face 9 of each of the rotor parts 9, said clearance spaces receiving the cranks 13 to which the piston rods 14 of the pistons 11 are connected. These cranks 13 are rigid with crank shafts 15 which extend longitudinally through the rotor A and are journaled therein. The extremities of the crank shafts 15 at one end of the rotor are provided with pinions 16 which mesh with an annular gear 17 applied to one edge of the shell 1. This gear 17 may retaining plate 18 is provided for clamping it in position. As the rotor turns the pinions 16 are caused to revolve because of their engagement with the gear 17, the pistons 11 being thereby moved in and out and serving to pump successive charges of an explosive mixture into explosion chambers 19 be formed in sections, and a flanged which are formed in the rotor at points opposite the inner ends of the cylinders 10, and which open through the periphery of the rotor, so that the mouths thereof are disposed opposite the buckets 3.

The cylinders 10 of each rotor section are arranged upon opposite sides of the main shaft 7 and are disposed at right angles to the radii of the rotor. The complemental halves 9 of the two rotor sections are arranged with the radial faces 9 thereof at substantially right angles to each other, and the cylinders 10 of the two rotor sections are accordingly disposed in spaced planes and arranged at an angle of 90 to each other. The explosion chambers 19 of one set of cylinders 10 are arranged in coopera- 'tive relation to one set of buckets 3, while the explosion chambers of the other cylinders 10 are arranged for cooperation with the opposite row of buckets 3.

The inner end of each cylinder 10 communicates with one side of the corresponding explosion chamber 19 through a passage 20 within which a valve supporting ring 21 is removably fitted, being preferably threaded in position therein. This ring is provided at an intermediate point in its length with an interior rib 22 which provides opposite facing shoulders, one of the shoulders being engaged by a valve spring 23, while the opposite shoulder provides a seat for a sleeve valve 24 which is slidable within the ring 21 and closed at its end,

thesides of the sleeve being formed with valve is moved "'into the explosion chamber and opened. The valve carries a stem 26 which passes axially through the ring 21 and is suitably connected to a skeleton plate 27 which bears against the valve spring 23.

The spring is] thus interposed between the rib 22 and plate 27 so as to normally hold the valve in a closed position, although the valve will slide into an open position when pressure is applied to the rear face thereof. The plate 27 is shown as carrying a sleeve 28 which is arranged within the spring 23 and slides upon the rib 22, thereby completely housing the spring so that it is protected against the action of the explosive mixture and products of combustion.

The shell 1 is provided at diametrically opposite points with exhaust openings 29, as well as with spark plugs 30, mixture supply pipes 31, and air supply pipes 32, one set of each of these elements being provided for each pair of explosion chambers 19 and cylinders 10, and the corresponding elements of the two sets being arranged at an angle of substantially 90 to each other.

The inner end of each cylinder 10 communicates with a passage 33 which opens through the periphery of the rotor and communicates at proper intervals with grooves 31 formed in the shell 1 at the inner end of the fuel supply pipes 31, and also with similar grooves 32 at the inner ends of the air supply pipes 32. The pinions 16 are of such a size that each piston 11 has four complete reciprocations or in and out movements during each complete rotation of the rotor A. During the first reciprocation, on the outstroke of the piston, the passage 33 communicates with one of the grooves 31, and an explosivecharge is sucked into the cylinder, said explosive charge being compressed and forced into the explosion chamber 19 upon the return movement of the piston, said explosion chamber having just previously passed one of the exhaust openings 29. At the moment when the piston 11 reaches the inner limit of its movement, the explosion chamber 19 is opposite one of the spark plugs 30, and the explosive mixture is ignited thereby. The resultant explosion acts upon the buckets 41 and tends to drive the rotor A. During the second reciprocation of the piston a charge of fresh air is sucked into the cylinder and again expelled therefrom without entering the explosion chamber. During this entire second reciprocation of the piston the passage 33 is in communication with the groove 32 at the inner end of the air supply pipe 32, so that th air is first sucked into the cylinder from the groov 32 and again expelled through the same groove 32 and air inlet 32. On the third reciprocation of the piston a fresh charge of explosive mixture is drawn into the cylinder from the opposite fuel supplv pipe 31 and groove 31, and forced into the explosion chamber 19 where it is ignited at the proper time by the opposite spark plug 30. On the fourth reciprocation fresh air is again drawn into the cylinder and expelled therefrom without entering the explosion chamber. There are thus two explosions in each explosion chamber 19 for each complete revolution of the rotor A. It will be observed that the fuel supply grooves 31 have only substantially half the length of the air supply grooves 32. since the passage 33 must communicate with each air supply groove 32 during a complete reciprocation or in-andout movement of the piston, while the said passage merely communicates with each fuel supply groove 31 during the outstroke of the piston 11, the mouth of the passage- 33, as well as the mouth of the combustion chamber 19, being closed by smooth portions of the inner periphery of the outer shell 1 during the return or compression stroke of the piston 11.

A comparatively wide band 40 is shown as extending around the middle of the rotor A and let into the periphery thereof between the two annular rows of buckets 41, narrow bands 42 being similarly let into the periphsides of the mouths of cry of the rotor on the outside of the two annular rows of buckets 4:1 and the bands 42 being connected to the band by cross bars 43 which are arranged upon opposite combustion chamhers 19, at which points the two annular rows of buckets 41 are interrupted. The buckets 41 are thus confined between the inset bands 40 and 42, and the wide band 40 extends over the mouths of the air supply grooves 32 and fuel supply grooves 31 so as to efiectively close the same and prevent leakage around the edges of the rotor. The unions passages 33 of the different cylinders 10 extend through the middle band 40, being brought into successive communication with the grooves 32 and grooves 31 as the rotor revolves. The buckets 41 in the periphery of the rotor are opposed to the buckets 3 of the shell 1 and cooperate therewith to admit of the expansion of the gases being utilized in the most effective manner. These buckets 41 also assist in removing the dead gases from the buckets and discharging them through the exhaust openings 29. The complemental halves 9 ofthe rotor sections may be secured together in any suitable manner, although in the present instance the ends of the rotor are shown as formed with hub portions 9 upon which rings 34 are shrunk.

An electric motor 35 is shown as provided for starting the engine, the motor shaft being provided with a sliding pinion 36 which has a feather-and spline connection therewith, and is adapted to be moved into mesh with an annular rack 37 on one end of the rotor A. A suitable shifting lever 38 is provided for sliding the pinion 36 into and out of engagement with the rack 37, said pinion remaining out of engagement with the rack at all times except when starting the engine.

In order to prevent leakage of the explosive mixture from the explosion chambers 19 during the compression strokes of the pistons 11, the continuity of the annular row of buckets is broken by a smooth wall which is arranged to be opposite the mouths of the explosion chambers during the compression strokes of the pistons, thereby closely confining the fuel mixture which might otherwise leak out instead of being compressed.

Having thus described the invention, whatwe claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A rotary explosion engine, including an outer shell provided upon the interior thereof with buckets, a rotor mounted within the outer shell and provided with an explosion chamber which opens through the periphery thereof in cooperative relation to the buckets, a pump upon the rotor for supplying fresh charges to the explosion chamber, a shaft extending through the rotor at one side thereof and having an operative connection with the pump, an annular gear at one end of the outer shell, a pinion applied to the shaft and meshing with the gear to drive the pump as the rotor turns, and ignition means.

2. A rotary explosion engine, including an outer shell provided upon the interior thereof with buckets, a rotor mounted within the outer shell and provided with an explosion chamber opening through the periphery thereof and arranged in cooperative relation to the buckets, said rotor being provided with a bore forming a pump cylinder and also with a passage leading from the pump cylinder to the explosion chamber, a spring seated check valve arranged in said passage and opening toward the explosion chamber, a piston mounted within the cylinder, means actuated by the rotation of the rotor for operating the piston, means for alternately supplying charges of fresh air and an explosive mixture to the cylinder, and ignition means for exploding the explosive charges in the explosion chamber.

3. A rotary explosion engine, including an outer shell provided upon the interior thereof with buckets, a rotor mounted within the outer shell and formed with an explosion chamber opening through the pe riphery thereof in cooperative relation to the buckets, said rotor being provided with a bore forming a pump cylinder and also with a passage leading from the pump cylinder to the explosion chamber, a piston mounted within the cylinder, a shaft extending through the rotor at one side thereof and operatively connected to the piston, an annular gear at one end of the outer shell, a pinion applied to the shaft and meshing with the gear for driving the piston,- means for alternately supplying charges of fresh air and of an explosive mixture to the cylinder, a spring seated check valve arranged in the passage between the cylinder and explosion chamber and opening toward the latter, and ignition means for exploding the charges in the explosion chambers.

l. A rotary explosion engine. including an outer shell provided upon the interior thereof with buckets, a rotor mounted within the outer shell and formed in complemental halves, each half being formed with a cylinder bore opening through a meeting face thereof, and being also provided with an explosion chamber located opposite the inner end of the cylinder bore and opening through the periphery of the rotor in cooperative relation to the buckets of the shell, passages being provided which communicate between the cylinders and the explosion chambers. sprin seated check valves mounted in the sa1d passages and opening toward the explosion chambers, pistons mounted within the cylinders, means actuated by the rotor for operating the pistons, means for supplying explosive charges to the cylinders, and ignition means for exploding the charges in the explosion chambers.

5. A rotary explosion engine including an outer shell provided on the interior thereof with an annular row of buckets and also with a peripherally extending mixture groove, a mixture feed pipe leading to the groove, a rotor mounted within the outer shell and formed with an explosion chamber opening through the periphery thereof in cooperative relation to the buckets, said rotor being provided with a bore forming a pump cylinder which communicates with the explosion chamber and also with a feed passage leading from the pump cylinder and opening through the periphery of the rotor in position to be brought into communication with the mixture groove as the rotor revolves, a check valve between the pump cylinder and explosion chamber, a piston mounted within the pump cylinder, means actuated by the rotor for reciprocating the piston, and ignition means for exploding the charges in the explosion chamber.

6. A rotary explosion engine, including an outer shell provided upon the interior thereof with an annular row of buckets and also with peripherally extending mixture and air grooves, a mixture feed pipe leading to the mixture groove, an air supply pipe leading to the air groove, a rotor mounted Within the outer shell and formed with an explosion chamber opening through the periphery thereof in cooperative relation to the buckets, said rotor being provided with a bore forming a pump cylinder which communicates with the explosion chamber, and also with a feed passage leading from the pump cylinder and opening through the periphery of the rotor in position to be brought successively into communication with the mixture groove and air groove as the rotor revolves, a check valve between the pump cylinder and the explosion chamber, a piston mounted within the pump cylinder, means actuated by the rotor for reciprocating the piston, and ignition means for exploding the charges in the explosion chamber.

7. A rotary explosion engine, including an outer shell provided upon the interior thereof with an annular row of buckets and also with peripherally extending mixture and air grooves, the air groove being twice the length of the mixture groove, a mixture feed pipe leading to the mixture groove, an air supply pipe leading to the air groove, a rotor mounted within the outer shell and formed with an explosion chamber opening through the periphery thereof in cooperative relation to the buckets, said rotor being provided with a bore forming a pump cylinder which communicates with the explosion chamber, and also with a feed passage leading from the pump cylinder and opening through the periphery of the rotor in position to be brought successively into communication with the mixture groove and air groove as the rotor revolves, a check valve between the pump cylinder and the explosion chamber, a piston mounted within the pump cylinder, means actuated by the rotor for reciprocating the piston, the air groove remaining in communication with the feed passage of the rotor during acomplete in and out movement of the piston, while the mixture groove only remains in communication with the said feed passage during the intake stroke of the piston, and ignition means for exploding the charges in the explosion chamber.

8. A rotary explosion engine, including an outer shell provided upon the interior thereof with an annular row of buckets arranged in one peripheral zone and a mixture groove arranged in another peripheral zone, a mixture feed pipe leading to the mixture groove, a rotor mounted within the outer shell and formed with an explosion chamber opening through the periphery thereof in cooperative relation to the buckets, said rotor being provided with a bore forming a pump cylinder which communicates with the explosion chamber, and also with a feed passage leading from the pump cylinder and opening through the periphery thereof in the zone of the fuel groove, a band surrounding the rotor in the zone of the mixture groove, said band having an aperture at the mouth of the before mentioned passage and serving to close the mixture groove, a check valve between the pump cylinder and explosion chamber, a piston mounted within the pump cylinder, means actuated by the rotor for reciprocating the piston, and ignition means for exploding the charges in the explosion chamber.

9. A rotary explosion engine, including an outer shell provided upon the interior thereof in one peripheral zone with a row of buckets, an exhaust, and a smooth wall, and in another peripheral zone with mixture and air grooves, a fuel feed pipe leading to the mixture groove, an air supply pipe leading to the air groove, a rotor mounted within the outer shell and formed with an explosion chamber opening through the periphery thereof in the zone of the buckets, and also with a bore providing a pump cylinder which communicates with the explosion chamber, a passage being providedwhich leads from the pump cylinder and opens through the periphery of the rotor in the zone of the mixture and air grooves, a check valve between the pump cylinder and explosion chamber, a piston mounted Within the pump cylinder, means actuated by the rotor for reciprocating the piston, the passage of the rotor being brought successively into communication with the mixture and air grooves as the rotor turns, and ignition means for exploding the charges in the explosion chamber, the mouth of the explosion chamber being opposite the smooth walls of the shell during the compression stroke of the piston and opposite the buckets during the explosion of the charge.

10. A rotary explosion engine, including an outer shell provided upon the interior thereof in one peripheral zone with a row of buckets, an exhaust, and a smooth wall, and in another peripheral zone with alternate mixture and air grooves, the air grooves having substantially twice the length of the mixture grooves, mixture feed pipes leading to the mixture grooves, air supply pipes leading to the air grooves, a rotor mounted within the outer shell and formed with an explosion chamber open-- ing through the periphery thereof in the zone of the buckets, said rotor being provided with a bore forming a pump cylinder which communicates with the explosion chamber, and also With a feed passage leading from the pump cylinder and opening through the periphery of the rotor in the zone of the mixture and air grooves, a check valve between the pump cylinder and the explosion chamber, a piston mounted within the pump cylinder, means actuated by the rotor for reciprocating the piston, the feed passage of the rotor being brought successively into communication with the mixture groove and air groove and remaining in communication with the air groove during a. complete in and out movement of the piston, while it is only in communication with the fuel groove during the intake stroke of the piston, the mouth of the explosion chamber being opposite the smooth walls of the shell during the compression stroke, and ignition means for exploding the charges in the explosion chamber,

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK J. CROMP. FRANK J. PEEBLES. HERBERT S. PEEBLES.

WVitnesses:

GLEN C. TOWNSEND, L. VAN SKION. 

